Redlands teacher charged with 41 counts of committing sex acts with students

REDLANDS -- Prosecutors charged former Citrus Valley High School teacher Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst on Monday with 41 felony counts of unlawful sex acts with a minor.

Whitehurst is accused of having sexual relationships with three students in the Redlands Unified School District, one of whom is believed to have fathered her baby, born June 18.

If convicted, she could face up to 29 years in state prison.

"Students represent the future of our communities and protecting them will continue to be my No. 1 priority," said District Attorney Michael A. Ramos, a former member of the Redlands School Board, in a news release Monday afternoon.

Whitehurst was arrested again Monday morning, a week after her first arrest on which she paid bail for release.

She was first arrested July 1 on suspicion of unlawful sex with a student at Citrus Valley High School. Subsequently, two more former students came forward, claiming they had sexual relationships with her while they were students at Redlands High School.

At the time the alleged relationships took place, the boys ranged in age from 14 to 17, according to the Redlands Police Department.

Whitehurst's bail, originally set at $25,000, was raised to $750,000 on Monday.

Whitehurst's attorney, James Gass, said Monday afternoon that he doubted if she had posted bail.

Whitehurst has been charged with 30 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with the now-17-year-old who allegedly fathered her child. She faces 11 felony counts of oral copulation of a person under 18, one count of which is alleged to have taken place in 2007 and involved a now-21-year-old, according to the court file. The remaining 10 counts are from 2007 to 2008 and involve a now-22-year-old, the charges state.

Gass said he has advised Whitehurst not to talk to the press. She nor her family could not be reached for comment on Monday.

Adding that he had not seen any of the paperwork as of Monday afternoon, Gass declined further comment.

Brad Mason, assistant superintendent of Redlands Unified School District -- where Whitehurst was employed from 2007 until last week -- released a statement from Superintendent Lori Rhodes.

"Even though today's developments were not unexpected, they nevertheless mark a sad day for our school district," Rhodes said in the statement. "Our faculty and staff are made up of caring professionals who have chosen careers as educators because they want what is best for young people. Anything that harms a student harms us all."

A video arraignment hearing was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.

Timeline

Fall 2007-Spring 2008: Laura Whitehurst begins her teaching career in Redlands Unified School District as an English teacher at Redlands High School.

No more than two months into the school year Whitehurst allegedly begins a relationship with a 16-year-old junior. He alleges their relationship began in the classroom with kissing and moved to her residence where it became sexual during multiple visits. The alleged victim, now 22, says he broke it off with Whitehurst during the spring semester in 2008.

Also in the fall 2007, Whitehurst allegedly begins a relationship with a 14-year-old Redlands High student. They had sex in the classroom before school, in her car and at her residence, police say the now 20-year-old man told them. Their alleged relationship ended in early 2008.

2009-2010 school year: Whitehurst is brought back to the district to teach at Orangewood High School.

2010-2011 school year: Whitehurst transfers to Citrus Valley High School.

July 2012: Whitehurst allegedly begins a relationship with a 16-year-old Citrus Valley High student she advised after they met at a school-sponsored trip to Disneyland. The alleged relationship lasts nearly a year.

September 2012: Whitehurst became pregnant with a child, she told police was fathered by the teen. The couple continue sexual relationship during pregnancy.

May 16-17, 2013: Whitehurst questioned by CVHS Principal Bernard Cavanagh and RUSD assistant superintendent Sabine Robertson-Phillips about relationship with teen. No report filed to Child Protective Services or law enforcement.

June 18: Whitehurst gives birth. Teen attended delivery and birth and shortly after told his mom of relationship. She then notified Cavanagh who relayed information to Robertson-Phillips and Child Protective Services.

July 1: Robertson-Phillips notifies police of relationship between Whitehurst and minor student.

Redlands police arrest Whitehurst on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor at her home after questioning her. Police say the teen's mother reported the alleged relationship between Whitehurst and her son -- who graduated from Citrus Valley High in June and is now 17 -- to school officials, who relayed the information to police.

July 2: Police announce arrest. A now-22-year-old claiming to be a former victim contacts newspaper and police to share his story.

July 3: Police say their investigation has found another alleged victim -- a now-20-year-old man who says he was 14 when his alleged relationship with Whitehurst began.

Police officer Dominick Povero files affidavit in San Bernardino County Superior Court. It says Whitehurst confirmed ongoing relationship, the child's birth and the teen being the father.

Monday: District attorney files charges against Whitehurst -- 30 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with the teen and alleged father of her baby; 11 counts of oral copulation with a minor -- one with a now 21-year-old and 10 with a now 22-year-old.